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Licensing & Language/Translation questions

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    #1

    Licensing & Language/Translation questions

    Hi!

    I am really interested in Alpha 5 - it looks like it is an absolutely great development environment with a helpful community. I have some questions, forgive if they sound stupid, I am a total newbie:

    1) I would like to develop a simple desktop application to run on a LAN with three users. These users would connect to a database (MySQL) server. As far as I understand, I would need 3 runtime licenses and the platinum development environment. Is that correct? I mean, these three clients would be able to connect to this database server (with no Alpha 5 software running on it) and there would be no need for purchasing an Alpha 5 application server, right?

    2) By the way, what are the real differences between a Run Engine and Runtime licenses besides "Active-Link Tables"? I have read the information available on (broken link removed)​
    but I'm still confused. When are "Active-Link Tables" relevant? Why do Run Engine licenses which have this extra feature cost less than Runtime licenses which don't have it? Which should I choose for this case (it is a custom developped application and there will be probably no more than 3 concurrent users ever)? What if I wanted to make it a hybrid (desktop/web) application in the future (I would obviously need to purchase an application server license then, but how about runtime licensing)?

    3) Now, my main problem is that I live in Spain and would like to be able to use a GUI in Spanish. Is there a translation of all or at least some GUI elements/controls to Spanish? Will there ever be one? If a translation does no t exist, is there a possibility of translating them with XBasic? Would that be very time-consuming? Also, does Alpha 5 have international character support? UTF-8?

    Best regards,
    Alex
    Last edited by Lenny Forziati; 05-23-2023, 10:05 AM. Reason: broken link removed
    Tags: None
    #2
    Re: Licensing & Language/Translation questions

    Alex,

    I can't answer the question about languages. I know there are some people(a lot) from other countries using Alpha, so there must be some ability there.

    The runtimes you need if using sql would be the per seat. That allows you to use active link tables. I believe this is spelled out in the ducumentation on the web site.

    A big question is if you need sql. The .dbf files that are native with Alpha may be more than sufficient to what you have described so far. You also have the benefit of less money invested in runtime licensing.

    You can put your data files and support files on a server, connect your runtimes by shadow and never have to install alpha on the server. You can then access your server files from any computer to do work on the server app from a computer connected to the lan.

    You can later(if you want), add a web server to your system and make your web apps to use the same tables you already have. The ability to make your apps are included with the developement program, so you can have it ready to go on the web before you purchase the web server. you can test it also.

    .
    Dave Mason
    [email protected]
    Skype is dave.mason46

    Comment

      #3
      Re: Licensing & Language/Translation questions

      Thanks a lot for such a fast answer!

      1) So, it is possible to have these three client computers connecting to a forth computer with a DB on a LAN and therefore sharing information. What do you mean by "connect by shadow", though?

      2) Why do I need MySQL? Well, that's the DB I have been developing on so far (I am mostly a PHP guy) and since there are lots of tools available for it. However I should probably research it a little more, since DBF would also cover my needs and is also an industry standard. Also, would the aforementioned setup be possible with DBF?

      Best regards,
      Alex

      PS: Does anyone know something about internationalization/translation issues? mmaisterrena? Anyone? :-)

      Comment

        #4
        Re: Licensing & Language/Translation questions

        What do you mean by "connect by shadow", though?
        Your runtimes connect to the data by way of shadow tables. You put your data and support files on the server and the runtime is pointed at that data on the sever. the shadow then copies a few files and a semblance of the tables into it's folder. The shadow then "thinks" it is running live data. Works very well! Quick too.


        I am pretty sure Alpha does have support for spanish.

        please read this unless you already did.

        (removed broken link)


        .
        Last edited by Lenny Forziati; 06-02-2023, 02:44 PM. Reason: removed broken link
        Dave Mason
        [email protected]
        Skype is dave.mason46

        Comment

          #5
          Re: Licensing & Language/Translation questions

          Originally posted by Azaze1 View Post
          1) I would like to develop a simple desktop application to run on a LAN with three users. These users would connect to a database (MySQL) server. As far as I understand, I would need 3 runtime licenses and the platinum development environment. Is that correct? I mean, these three clients would be able to connect to this database server (with no Alpha 5 software running on it) and there would be no need for purchasing an Alpha 5 application server, right?
          You can connect to a database server if you have the right database drivers, and the database and network are set up to allow remote access... however, accessing *a* database doesn't provide them with a graphical user interface or any other way of actually getting information out of the database without having advanced SQL skills...

          When are "Active-Link Tables" relevant?
          If you need to update SQL tables remotely, using forms, directly and without major coding... then Active Link Tables are the easiest way.

          Why do Run Engine licenses which have this extra feature cost less than Runtime licenses which don't have it?
          Because Run Engine licenses are per seat and you need a license for every machine you install it on, whereas if you get an X user runtime license (without active link tables), the application can be run by X amount of users consecutively, at different locations, and you as a developer, if you are selling pre-written apps to different people, only need one copy of the RT license for different pre-written apps*.

          * As opposed to custom-written software for a new customer


          Which should I choose for this case (it is a custom developped application and there will be probably no more than 3 concurrent users ever)? What if I wanted to make it a hybrid (desktop/web) application in the future (I would obviously need to purchase an application server license then, but how about runtime licensing)?

          3) Now, my main problem is that I live in Spain and would like to be able to use a GUI in Spanish. Is there a translation of all or at least some GUI elements/controls to Spanish? Will there ever be one? If a translation does no t exist, is there a possibility of translating them with XBasic? Would that be very time-consuming? Also, does Alpha 5 have international character support? UTF-8?

          Best regards,
          Alex[/QUOTE]

          Comment

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